Disposable dress shield and method of manufacture thereof



A g- 1934 w. B. TYRRELL, JR

DISPOSABLE DRESS SHIELD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1962 m M 0 w .mmn m IHMW \\\\.!ll|. 0 a 0 .m 5 6 LHI. m a P m m INVENTOR. WFIL LHCE BIQHDLEI 772E544, Q

Aug. 25, 1964 w. B. TYRRELL, JR 3,145,391

DISPOSABLE DRESS SHIELD AND METHOD. OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed Aug. 6, 1962 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Wanna:- 501049/ 7 Y/44,Jg

United States Patent 3,145,391 DESPUSABLE DRESS SHIELD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Wallace Bradley Tyrreli, Jr., Venice, Fla, assignor, by

rnesne assignments, to Tyrrell Industries, inc, a corporation of Florida Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 214,938 t'llaims. (Cl. 2-56) This invention relates to a disposable dress shield and method of manufacture thereof.

The dress shield comprises a soft paper or non-woven fabric which is folded to straddle the under-arm seam of a garment and is given a curvature generally conforming to the arc of such a seam by gathers intersected by the fold line. Pressure sensitive adhesive is desirably provided to connect the pad by lengths of transfer tape bearing the desired adhesive, the arrangement being such that the tape initially serves as a parting sheet for protecting the adhesive; being torn olf to expose adhesive transferred to the shield for purposes of use.

The method of manufacture involves designing dress shield blanks which have complementary curves when out in staggered relation from a supply web, thus minimizing the waste in such web. The gathering of the blank is then done along a line symmetrically intersected by the fold line upon which the shield is ultimately to be folded. In one species of the invention the gathering is done by stretching an adhesive tape, cementing the blank to the blank while still stretched, and then allowing the tape to contract, thereby producing gathers in the blank to which it adheres. In another species of the process, the gathering is done by a gathering attachment on a sewing machine which makes a line of stitching lengthwise of the blank, producing the gathers as it does so. The stitching, in this species, follows the line upon which the shield is to be folded.

In the second species of the method it is preferred to apply the end adhesive tabs parallel to the projected line of fold at the ends of the shield, linking the shield to the successive blank. When this is done by means of a transfer tape as above described, the transfer tape provides a thicker, firm yet slippery surface which precludes the sewing machine gathering attachment from producing gathers as the stitching traverses the transfer tape. It is desirable that the gathers be omitted from the ends of the shield.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a dress shield made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a succession of dress shield blanks in end to end series, various steps of manufacture being illustrated at various points in the series.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged detail view taken in section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the inside of an unfolded shield completed as indicated at the right in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a web showing how the web blanks are cut therefrom.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing an alternate method of producing the gathers transversely of the fold line of a shield blank.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the shield after the gathers have been formed therein.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a species of the invention made according to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing on reduced scale a modified embodiment of the invention.

In order to make the dress shields shown in FIG. 1, the following procedure is followed:

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The elliptical blank 10 is prefabricated to provide tabs 12 and 14 at its opposite ends. A piece of gummed elastic tape 16 is stretched and, while still stretched, is adhered to the prefabricated blank 10, this step being shown at B in FIG. 2.

As soon as the tension of the tape 16 is released, the tape contracts as shown at C in FIG. 2. Being adhered to the blank it during its contraction, the tape reduces the length of the blank, producing gathers 18 therein, these gathers extending transversely of the tape and the blank. Then, as shown in D in FIG. 2, several strips 20 of gummed transfer tape are applied to the sides and ends of the blank. Those applied to the ends may span the line of severance between blanks which are still connected. Each such strip comprises, in accordance with conventional practice, a release backing ply 22 bearing transferable pressure-sensitive adhesive coating material at 24. The backing ply 22 is readily removed by the user of the shield, leaving some of the pressure-sensitive coating 24 adhering to the blank 19, where it will serve to attach the blank to the garment of the user. If the operation was conducted with the blanks still in connection in endless series, the individual blanks are now severed at 26.

Finally the blank is folded down its longitudinal center upon the fold line 34 as shown in FIG. 1. Elastic tape 16 is on the inside of the fold. The gathers extend symmetrically at both sides of the fold 30, the fold line having an arcuate form by reason of the gathers.

The finished product comprises semi-elliptical portions 32 and 34 joined upon the fold line and having the projecting tabs 12 and 14 each of which carries one of the pieces of gummed transfer tape 20, there being additional gummed transfer tapes near the free margins of each of the similarly elliptical portions 32 and 34.

The shield thus made is preferably readily disposable. The material used is described generically as paper, the term being used generically, to include paper-like material such as thin sheets of synthetic resin (plastic) and also thin sheets of unwoven fabric, which are paper like in many respects.

The blanks may be cut with little waste from a web such as that shown at 36 in FIG. 5, it being noted that each endless series of the elliptical blanks 10 is integrally connected by narrow neck portions 38 which, when severed, will make up the tabs 12 and 14, each adjoining endless strip having its elliptical blank portions 10 in staggered relation to lie opposite the neck portions 38 of adjacent strips.

If desired, the dress shields may be made by an alternative procedure which involves stitching along the intended fold line, using the gathering attachment of a sewing machine instead of the elastically stretchable gummed tape 16 as a means of producing the gathers. Since it is not desired to produce gathers in the tabs 12 and 14, it is interesting to note that the release plies 22 of transfer adhesive tapes 20, by reason of their relatively slippery surfaces, are not readily acted upon by the gathering mechanism of a sewing machine. Hence if these strips are applied to the blank prior to the sewing operation, the gathering will automatically be restricted to the desired area. If the said strips are applied before the individual blanks are severed from each other, being still connected in endless series, it is possible to produce the desired gathering in the appropriate areas of successive blanks in one continuous operation throughout the length of the series-connected blanks.

FIG. 7 shows a row of stitching at 40 which has produced gathers at 18 as already described. The line of stitching at 40 also represents the line upon which the components 320 and 340 of the blank are folded to produce the finished shield as shown in FIG. 8. As in the I) shield of FIG. 1, the fold line is made in arcuate form due to the gathers, being thereby adapted to fit the underarm seam of the garment in which the shield is used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 two changes are illustrated, either of which may be used interchangeably in the structures of FIG. 1 or FIG. 8. One change involves the use of two adhesive transfer tapes 201 which are spaced slightly at opposite sides of the center line as represented by the stitching 40. The parallel tapes are sufficiently close together so that they have the effect of preventing the sewing machine gathering mechanism from acting on the work, the result being as described above.

The other, and independent, feature of difference lies in the fact that the adhesive transfer tapes 202 on the semi-elliptical portions 32 and 34 are set parallel to the center line instead of being at right angles thereto.

In either case the pressure-sensitive adhesive conveniently applied to the interior of the shield in the manner above described will facilitate the anchorage of the shield within the garment, but without rendering it difficult to remove the shield when it has served its purpose. It is intended that the shield be removed and discuded following each use, being sufficiently inexpensive to Warrant this procedure.

I claim:

1. A dress shield comprising integrally connected Web portions defined by an intervening fold line and having gathers transversely spanning the fold line, the fold line being of arcuate form, folded tabs integral with both web portions and spanning the fold line, the shield being provided on said tabs with transfer tapes for attaching the shield to a garment, each of said tapes comprising a release ply and pressure sensitive adhesive, the release ply protecting the adhesive against premature adhesion, the gathers being substantially centered on the fold line between said tabs and terminating at said tapes.

2. A dress shield comprising integrally connected Web portions defined by an intervening fold line and having gathers transversely spanning the fold line, the fold line being of arcuate form, folded tabs integral with both Web portions and spanning the fold line, the shield being provided on said tabs with transfer tapes for attaching the shield to a garment, each of said tapes comprising a release ply and pressure sensitive adhesive, the release ply protecting the adhesive against premature adhesion, the gathers being substantially centered on the fold line be tween said tabs and terminating at said tapes, additional transfer tapes being located on said web portions remote from said fold line.

3. A method of making a dress shield having web portions folded upon themselves, said method including the steps of cutting an integral series of fiat blanks, each blank including web portions and tab portions projecting from the ends of the web portions, tab portions of said blanks being joined endwise to tab portions of successive blanks in said series, forming and fixing gathers in the web portions transversely of each blank between the tab portions thereof, severing the blanks between the tab portions of successive blanks, and folding the severed blanks across the gathers formed therein and longitudinally and medially of the tabs to form shields which in clude gathered Web portions and ungathered tabs.

4. A method of making a dress shield having web portions folded upon themselves, said method including the steps of cutting an integral series of flat blanks, each blank including web portions and tab portions projecting from the ends of the web portions, tab portions of said blanks being joined endwise to tab portions of successive blanks in said series, forming and fixing gathers in the web portions transversely of each blank between the tab portions thereof, the application of pressure sensitive adhesive to the tab portions of respective blanks, severing the blanks between the tab portions of successive blanks, and folding the severed blanks across the gathers formed therein and longitudinally and medially of the tabs to form shields which include gathered web portions and ungathered tabs.

5. A method of making a dress shields having web portions folded upon themselves, saidmethod including the steps of cutting an integral series of flat blanks, each blank including web portions and tab portions projecting from the ends of the web portions, tab portions of said blanks being joined endwise to tab portions of successive blanks in said series, applying to the tabs of successive blanks transfer tapes each including a carrier ply and an adhesive coating, and gather stitching said series of blanks and thereby forming and fixing gathers in the Web portions transversely of each blank between the tab portions thereof, the transfer tapes on the tab portions of the blanks of said series preventing the gather stitching from forming gathers on the tab portions of the respective blanks, severing the blanks between the tab portions of successive blanks, and folding the severed blanks across the gathers formed therein and longitudinally and medially of the tabs to form shields which include gathered web portions and ungathered tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,886 Schley July 2, 1895 885,530 Sachsenroder Apr. 21, 1908 2,125,495 French Aug. 2, 1938 2,140,211 Shaw Dec. 13, 1938 2,269,365 Fowler Jan. 6, 1942 2,731,643 Waldes Jan. 24, 1956 2,823,388 Prupis et al Feb. 18, 1958 2,976,199 Rand Mar. 21, 1961 3,001,201 Hauser Sept. 26, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,804 Canada Mar. 21, 1950 409,887 France Feb. 28, 1910 

1. A DRESS SHIELD COMPRISING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WEB PORTIONS DEFINED BY AN INTERVENING FOLD LINE AND HAVING GATHERS TRANSVERSELY SPANNING THE FOLD LINE, THE FOLD LINE BEING OF ARCUATE FORM, FOLDED TABS INTEGRAL WITH BOTH WEB PORTIONS AND SPANNING THE FOLD LINE, THE SHIELD BEING PROVIDED ON SAID TABS WITH TRANSFER TAPES FOR ATTACHING THE SHIELD TO A GARMENT, EACH OF SAID TAPES COMPRISING A RELEASE PLY AND PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE, THE RELEASE PLY PROTECTING THE ADHESIVE AGAINST PREMATURE ADHESION, THE GATHERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CENTERED ON THE FOLD LINE BETWEEN SAID TABS AND TERMINATING AT SAID TAPES. 